5 Tips For Making Sure Your Car Is Safe For A Family Road Trip #CarSafetyChecklist #Winter

Of all the seasons, winter requires the most preparation to ensure you and your family stay safe on the roads. Over the Christmas period many of us travel to see families and the last thing we want to worry about is a breakdown.

Without proper planning, your adventure could turn into a nightmare. Stay calm parents and share these five tips to driving long distances safer and more enjoyable.

Before beginning a long drive, always get enough sleep and eat a snack or meal.

Keep your car in good condition

Ensure your car is regularly serviced, has up-to-date insurance, tax, MOT and you check the basics before heading off on a long journey. It is important to do essentail secutirty checks which is why kwik-fit.com have set up a #CarSafetyChecklist campaign.

This means checking the engine oil (pop to the garage if you’re topping up more than usual), water (antifreeze) and fuel levels, making sure all your lights work, and your tyres are at the correct pressure. With the worry of snow and ice you will want to ensure the tread is up to standard.

This time of year ensure that you carry deicer! Most people forget about windscreen wipers but given the weather in the UK good to check they are in tip top condition for optimal visability. Additionally if your car has been sedentary for a few days check the battery as The colder the temperature gets, the slower the chemical reactions within the battery.

Strap them in.

Make sure child safety locks are activated on windows and doors within reach of curious hands. Ensure children have the right car seats for their age and that seatbelts are tightened after removal of thick winter coats. Store heavy items in the seat wells and suitcases and strollers strapped down in the boot.

Plan your route.

Whether you have a handy satnav or not it’s always good to check and familiarize yourself with directions, schedule stops for comfort breaks of at least 15 minutes every 2 hours, not just for the driver but for passengers too. Use Google maps to check for any accidents. Avoid big cities or towns at rush hours.

Pack an emergency kit.

First aid kit, flashlight, blankets, tire puncture kit, engine oil, road map, bottle of water and snacks. Always carry treats when travelling with children, if you forget the fruit pastels then god forbid. What kind of things do you keep in your essential toolkit?

Entertainment.

Forget I-spy. An in car DVD player or tablet. Check out our suggestions for surviving car journeys with children. Make sure everything is set up in the car the night before, as it will save time later. Download and charge. Download and charge!

What driving tips would you recommend to other travellers?

Note: This is a collaborative post.

5 Tips For Making Sure Your Car Is Safe For A Family Road Trip #CarSafetyChecklist #Winter was last modified: December 20th, 2017 by Jade

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It’s A Jungle Out There

I'm Jade. She who quips and blathers. (I also answer to 'OI' screamed at an inaudible pitch). Finding my feet as an imperfect #Lionessmama. An award winning family & lifestyle blogger to a cape-wearing six year old and lover of brightly coloured photography.
For enquiries contact Jade@TheParentingJungle.com